Top loading boxcar



v may@ Aug- 18, 1959 w. A. JANl-:czKo 2,899,912

TOP LOADING BOXCAR Filed sept. 27, 1955 2 sgeets-'sheet 1 Aug. 18, 1959 w. A. JANEczKo TOP LOADING BOXCAR Filed Sept. 27, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TOP LOADING BOXCAR William A. Janeczlm, Hammond, Ind.

Application September 27, 1955, Serial No. 536,807

9 Claims. (Cl. 10S-377) The invention relates generally to railroad equipment and more particularly is directed to improvements in boxcars.

The conventional boxcar is provided with oppositely disposed side entrance openings through which merchandise is moved to load and unload the car. These openings `do not afford proper access for the loading and unloading of all kinds of merchandise. For example, long planks of lumber, wide sheets of plywood, and long lengths of various metal items, such as piping, tubing and strip stock, cannot be passed through the side openattil ings as readily as containers which are of a size and unloading of merchandise through the open top of the car.

The structure embodying the invention includes a boxcar body having a bottom wall, side walls, end walls, a cover and a pair of unique means for operatively connecting the ends of the cover to the end walls of the car body. More particularly in this regard, the connecting means are located exteriorly of the body and cover so that full advantage of the available storage space can be utilized and without interference by any internally disposed fittings.

The Vpair of connecting means, embodying the invention, are preferably identical and provision is made whereby both connecting means can be simultaneously operated to move the cover by any one of three controls respectively located at the ends and at one side of the ca-r body for convenient manipulation.

An important object of the invention is to provide a connecting means which includes a pair of interconnected independently operable power units. The power units may be designed and constructed in various ways, but as exempliiied in the drawings, each unit is of the hydraulic or fluid type and includes a cylinder and piston. One power unit is preferably made somewhat larger than the other and its cylinder is pivotally mounted on an end wall adjacent the bottom wall of the car body and its piston is pivotally attached to an end of the cover. The smaller or secondary power unit includes a piston piv-v otally connected to the larger cylinder and a cylinder pivotally mounted on an end wall adjacent a corner of the .body and above the point that the larger cylinder is attached to the end wall. The larger or primary power units at the ends of the body serve to carry the weight of the cover when the cover is in an inoperative depending position alongside a side wall of the body or when it is being manipulated to open or close the open top of the body. The smaller power units at the ends of the body respectively serve to control the pivotal movement of the larger units and thereby iniluence movement of the cover. The arrangement is such that the pair of larger power units can be simultaneously or jointly operand the pair of smaller power units jointly and independently of the larger units by manipulating any one of the three controls above referred to.

A signiiicant object of the invention is to provide means for limiting, within practicable limits, the pivotal movement between the cover and the primary power units.

A specific object of the invention is to provide the boxcar with resilient bumpers in order to prevent damage to the cover when it is swung and lowered against the sides of the car.

Other attributes of the invention reside in its durability and the positive and efficient action of the connecting means in manipulating the cover.

Many other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent after the description hereinafter set forth is considered in conjunction with the drawings annexed hereto. v

In the drawings:

Figure l is an elevational side view of a boxcar with the connecting means and controls applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a partial top view of the structure shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a partial top view of the car showing the cover in an inoperative position along one side of the car; t

Figure 4 is an elevational end view of the cati body showing a connecting means comprised of the pair of power units and a control associated with an end of the body; and

Figure 5 is another end view of the body showing the cover in an inoperative position and in various transitory positions of movement.

As clearly exemplied in the drawings, the car body is mounted on wheels and, among other things, includes a bottom wall i, side walls 2, end walls 3, and a cover 4 for the open top side of the body. The upper extremity of the body is preferably provided with an outwardly extending horizontal surrounding liange 5. The cover is provided with a depending flange 6 adapted to embrace the flange 5 to prevent accidental displacement of the cover when seated on the body and exclude entry of foreign matter, such as rain, snow and dust, into the body.

As previously alluded to above, a connecting means, comprising a pair of power units of diiferent sizes, is located adjacent each end of the car body. As depicted in Figures 4 and 5, the larger extensible-retractable unit of the connection means there shown includes a cylinder 7 and `a piston rod S. The lower end of the cylinder is preferably pivotally connected or journalled on a shaft 9, the latter of which is carried by a fitting or a bracket lil mounted on an end wall 3 and supported on that portion of the bottom wall which extends longitudinally outward. The bracket is mounted at a location substantially midway of the width of the end wall and preferably a short distance left of center as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The outer end of the piston rod 8 is preferably provided with an eye ll which pivotally receives a pin l2 eXtend-.

ing longitudinally from the cover. The pin is secured midway of the width of the cover in order to promote balance. The piston rod 3 is preferably guided in its swinging movement to stabilize movement of the cover by means of an arcuate guide 13 provided with a slot through which the piston extends. Attention is directed to the fact that the larger power units are preferably disposed at an angle to the vertical so that when these units are actuated the cover will automatically move to the ated and independently of the pair of smaller power units right as viewed in Figures 4 and 5.

The other and smaller power extensible-retractable unit of the connecting means, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, includes a piston rod 14 having its outer end pivotally connected to the larger cylinder at l5 at a point substantially intermediate its length. The smaller unit also includes a cylinder 16 which is pivotally` connected to a shaft 17 carried by a bracket or mounting plate 13. It will be noted that this plate is located adjacent one corner of the ca r bodyandat' a location above `the level of the connection between'the larger cylinder and the shaft 9 for inuencing or controlling movement of the larger power unit when the latter is idle or rendered inoperative.

As alluded to above, three controls are preferably utilized and disposed for convenience in operating the connecting means. These controls may be designed and constructed'in various ways but as herein exempliiied, the control used for the connecting means at the end of the car body illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, includes a housing 19provided` with suitable valving mechanism actuated by a lever 20. The large cylinder 7 is connected to the housing 19 by a conduit or pipe 2l and the small cylinder 16 isA similarly connected to the housing by a conduit 22. Thefhousing 19 is communicatively connected by a conduit 23 with a master cylinder 24 containing oil maintained under pressure by an air pump not shown.

The connecting means and second control at the other or opposite end of the car body correspond to the connecting means and control above described and includes a housing 25 connected to the master cylinder by a conduit 26 and the housing is provided with a lever 27 like the lever 20.

Provision isv made for a third control which is preferably located adjacent one side of the car for convenient manipulation. This control includes a housing 28 operatively connected to the master cylinder 24 and to the housings 19 and 25 at the ends of the car by a pair of conduits 29 and 30. The housing 28 is provided with a pair of levers 31 and 32.

The operative relationship between the pair of connecting means and controls at the ends of the car in such that by moving either of the levers 2i) and 27 in one direction will cause simultaneous operation of both of the larger power units to eiect outward movement of their pistons and also render the smaller units inoperative and whereby movement of either of these levers in an opposite direction will cause a corresponding operation of both of the smaller power units to eect outward movement of their pistons and also render the larger units inoperative. By manipulating the lever 31 of the third control the larger power units will be jointly operated to the exclusion of the smaller units and movement of the other lever 32 will jointly operate the smaller power units and render the larger units inoperative.

It will thus be manifest that movement of the cover is readily accomplished by the thrust from the pair of pilstons 8 and the independent thrust of the pistons 14 which inuence the movement or action of the larger power units when the latter are idle, and vice versa. More specically in this respect, when any one of the levers is properly manipulated, the pressure of fluid will cause the piston rods 8 to move upwardly and lift the cover to the horizontal dotted line position shown in Figure 5, or to a predetermined position to permit the cover to pivot and clear the upper part of the car 1cody. When the cover is moved to the aforesaid position, it is then manually swung to a substantially vertical position, whereupon the lever is moved to a neutral position which permits the cover to gradually fall by gravity against the right side wall of the body and under the side lange to provide freeaccess to the interior of the body for loading or unloading merchandise. The smaller units are freely extensible during such movements of the cover. The car body is preferably provided with spaced resilient bumpers 33 which are adapted to be engaged by the cover to prevent damage to the cover and body when the cover falls alongside the body. To raise the cover from its position alongside the car body, the appropriate lever is moved to cause extension or" the larger power' units and when the cover reaches a predetermined position, the lever is moved to cause the smaller power units to re- 4 tract or pull the larger units to the left to-place the cover directly above the car, so that by further manipulation of the larger and smaller units will be retracted to allow the cover to gradually fall by gravity onto the car with the flange 6 on the cover embracing the ange 5 on the car as depicted in Figure 4.

In order to assist in controlling, within practicable limits, the pivotal movement between the larger power units and cover, the ends ofthe cover are preferably provided with stops or abutments 34 which are engageable with the piston rods 8. The range of pivotal movement permitted between the cover and power units throughthe abutments facilitate positioning the cover manually and/ or by the power units.

It is to be understood that the connecting means at the ends of the car may comprise the extensible power units above described or consist of gear driven extensible units.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various modifications may be made in the samewithout departing from the spirit of the invention, and, therefor-e, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction,l arrangement, and combination of parts herein shown and described.

I claim:

l. In combination: a boxcar having an open top, a. cover for the open top, means at the ends of the car for moving the cover relative to the car, each of said means comprising iirst and second reciprocating units, said iirst units having ends pivotally connected to the cover and ends pivotally connected tothe ends of the car at locations spaced below its upper edges for moving the cover upwardlyv from the car, and said second units having ends respectively connected to the rst units and the ends of the car at locations spaced from the connections between the rst units and the car for controlling movement of the rst units.

2. In combination: a boxcar having an open top, a cover for the open top, means at the ends of the car for moving the cover relative to the car, each of said means comprising a first extensible-retractable unit having its ends respectively pivotally connected to the cover and an end of the car below its upper edge for moving the cover upwardly from the car, and a second extensible# retractable unit having an end connected to each of the rst units and an end connected to the car for controlling the pivotal movement of the first units, said connections being the second units and first units'and the car being spaced from the connections between the first units and the car.

3. In combination: a boxcar having an open top, a cover for the open top, means at the ends of the car for moving the cover relative to the car, said means comprising eXtensible-retractable units having upper ends pivotally connected to the cover and lower ends pivotally connected to the ends of the car at locations spaced below its upper edges for moving the cover upwardly from the car, the pivotal connections between the units and the car ends being oiset with respect to the pivotal connections between the cover and units so that when the units are extended to raise the cover the cover will be caused to swing toward an open position, andmeans operatively connected to the units for controlling their pivotal movement with respect to the car.

4. In combination: a boxcar having an open top, a cover for the open top, means at the ends of the car for moving the cover relative to the car, each of said means comprising iirst and second reciprocating units, said iirst units having ends pivotally connected to the cover and ends pivotally connected to the ends of the car at 1ocations spaced below its upper edges for moving the cover upwardly from the car, the second units having ends respectively connected to the first units and the ends of the car for controlling movement of thelirst units, said connections between the second units and the first units and the car being spaced from the connections between the rst units and the car, and means whereby the rst units can be operated independently of the second units and vice-versa.

5. An open topped boxcar, a cover therefor, means connecting the ends of the cover and the ends of the car, each of said means including a cylinder and a piston, said cylinders being respectively pivotally connected to the ends of the car at locations spaced below its upper edges and the pistons being respectively connected to the ends of the cover, and means whereby the pistons can be extended to move the cover upwardly a predetermined di'stance and permit the cover to gradually swing to an open position alongside the car, and means operatively connected to the cylinders and the car for controlling the pivotal movement of said cylinder and piston means.

6. An open topped boxcar, a cover therefor, power means connecting the ends of the cover and the ends of the car, each of said power means including a cylinder and a piston, said cylinders being respectively pivotally connected to the ends of the car at locations spaced below its upper edges and said pistons being respectively connected to the ends of the cover, means whereby the pistons can be extended to move the cover upwardly a predetermined distance and permit the cover to gradually swing to an open position alongside the car, and means operatively connected to the power means for pivoting the latter when the cover is being returned to close the open top of the car.

7. An open topped boxcar, a cover therefor, primary means connecting the ends of the cover and the ends of the car, each of said primary means including a cylinder and a piston, said cylinders being respectively pivotally connected to the ends of the car at locations spaced below its upper edges and the pistons being respectively pivotally connected to the ends of the cover, secondary means at the ends of the car, each of said secondary means including a cylinder and a piston, the cylinders of said secondary means being respectively pivotally connected to the car ends and the pistons thereof being respectively pivotally connected vto the cylinders of the primary means, and control means whereby the pistons of the primary means can be extended independently of the pistons of the secondary means to move the cover upwardly to a predetermined position and then move to an open position alongside the car and thereafter extend the pistons of the primary means to move the cover outwardly after the pistons of the secondary means can be retracted to pull the primary means and cover to position the cover over the car, and then retract the pistons of the primary means to permit the cover to move down and close the open top of the car.

8. ln combination: an open topped box car including a pair of opposed upstanding walls, a corver for the open top, means at the upstanding side walls for moving the cover relative to the car, each of said means comprising rst and second reciprocating units, said irst units halving ends pivotally connected to the cover and ends pivotally connected to the ysaid walls at locations spaced below their upper edges for moving the cover upwardly from the car, and said second units having ends respectively connected to the rst units and the said walls 0f the car at locations spaced from the connections between the lrst units and the car for controlling movement of the lirst units.

9. An open topped boxcar, a cover therefor, primary means connecting the ends of the cover and the ends of the car, each of said primary means including a cylinder and a piston, said cylinders being respectively pivotally connected to the ends of the car at locations spaced below its upper edges and the pistons being respectively pivotally connected to the ends of the cover, secondary means at the ends of the car, each of said secondary means including a cylinder and a piston, the cylinders of said secondary means being respectively pivo-tally connected to the car ends and the pistons thereof being respectively pivotally connected to the cylinders of the primary means for iniluencing the pivotal movements of the latter, and three controls respectively located at the ends and one side of the car and operatively connected with one another and the primary and secondary means whereby any one of the controls can be utilized to operate the pistons of the primary and secondary means independently of one another.

Reerences Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 496,163 Lebach Apr. 25, 1893 2,027,421 Eisenberg Jan. 14, 1936 2,629,339 Kovachick Feb. 24, 1953 2,684,696 Gurries et al July 27, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 23,164 Great Britain Oct. 7, 1915 (1914) 265,063 Great Britain Feb. 3, 1927 

